Doctors facing sex charges hire PR firm

Stories like this give our profession a bad wrap.
http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/943487--doctors-facing-sex-charges-hire-pr-fir

I teach that perception is reality; If the public perceives that PR is attempting to manipulate them, the reality is that the public will reject the image created.

Regardless of innocence or guilt I don’t think PR has helped these clients, in fact its added more negativity to their story. PR is not supposed to make matters and it should never become the story.

The key word in Public relations is ‘Public’. Ultimately everything done in PR should be consistent with the greater public good.

A good PR person would have to be convinced that the client was innocent in order to avoid the ethical dilemma of ensuring they served the greater public good. I’m confident that most PR folks don’t claim greater insight than highly trained investigators who also work for the public good.

Great crisis communications is all about accepting responsibility – and maintaining as much positive image and reputation as the client moves forward. Its not about redirecting focus elsewhere.

PR firms that do this sort of work make lots of money – they don’t make the world a better place and they don’t help the image of the PR profession!

PR in 2010

As we embark on a new decade much debate exists as to where our profession is heading - most of the debate is centred around technology and tactics. The good news is that so long as you stick to the RACE formula you have a recipe for success no matter what the future brings. Don’t forget the big picture too - everything you do should support the strategy, vision and future direction of the organization you represent as a communicator. So the debate is really over tactics and to dig down a little further it’s about social media. Twitter and blogs are almost passé. The future rests with social media that allows for dialogue and two-way symmetrical communication. It’s going to keep changing and we will have to adapt to the new platforms as they emerge out of cyberspace or someone’s dreams. No big deal - change is fun!. But don’t forget the basics. Face -to -Face communication will never be second place to any other tactic and sometimes the solution to your communications problem can be as simple as a message on a bulletin board!!

Grads Getting Jobs

You may think that the recession is hurting our Grad hire rates, but this is far from the case. During tough times the last thing an organization should stop doing is communicating. Good companies and organizations know that strong communications will help reassure stakeholders and maintain organizational trust and stakeholder commitment during tough times. I'm hearing lots of great success stories and grads have been recently hired by companies like: Staples, Ketchum, Co-operators, Transamerica Life, Canadian Tire, Children's Aid Foundation, City of Mississauga and Boston Pizza to name a few. Well done guys!

Update from the Local Government Sector

By Hina Sheikh

Hey Andy,

I've been meaning to drop you a line for a while now, I hope all is well with you! I am missing corp comm a lot and being in class and seeing everyone.

I am under the Canada Day event side at the City and I am working with your students Jen and Jagoda who graduated in 08. They are really fun people so it's nice to work with them and we share laughs about the jokes you tell.. They miss you too!

Since I have started I have been invited to all the internal meetings with other departments and even a council meeting. My role there is logistics regarding this year's Canada Day event.

Something kinda cool I wanted to share was that during a road closure meeting I noticed my manager asking if there was an emergency plan specific to events. No one knew of any such document. I brought up later that I am familiar with crisis communication writing and that I had written a crisis plan with my group in school. She has now let me devise a Event Emergency Preparedness Plan for Canada Day.. so that's my project that I've been working on and I am using the headings from the plan as a template.

I just wanted to fill you in.. I'm not sure what the future has in store after this internship, but I am open to anything that comes along.

Update from the Hotel/Hospitality Sector

By Megan O'quinn

Hi Andy
i just wanted to let you know that i LOVE love love love my internship! it is actually exactly what i was hoping for... i couldnt be happier anywhere else, seriously.

i have been working in the sales and marketing department and will soon move to catering, which is much more event 'planning' focused. i will also eventually move up to the front desk/reservations to get a taste of that department. I put together a presentation (although very small) for one of the directors who had a client meeting for a potential huge amount of revenue - if they sign on with us... he was quite pleased... I really hope they do sign on.

I have just been asked to create an internal newsletter, which they've never had and have been talking about since last year apparently, so I am excited to take on that project. As well,Im in the midst of creating 7 different e-mail blasts for promotions, events, and packages etc that are offered throughout the year. I am currently working with all of the department heads, executives, and the general manager! I attended their meeting on Friday which was great. They put me on the spot and gave me a chance to speak - so I just thanked them for the opportunity and for their warm welcome. I have also been to a few other meetings and I went with the director of catering to a 'tasting' - it was great! they are really making an effort to involve me in everything they can!.

Anyways, i just wanted to fill you in with my experience so far and send a quick note to say hello!
Meg

2008 Grad News

By Martin Jackson (2008 Grad)

Dear Friends:

Yesterday, after eight months on contract, I accepted a permanent position with Canadian Tire as Manager, Internal Communications with a Communications Coordinator reporting to me. My portfolio is still within the corporate side of the company but now includes accountability for the company’s intranet (or inTIREnet as we call it!). I’ve also been given the freedom to work from home one day a week so that lessens the commuting burden.

Canadian Tire has such a unique culture - It’s a lot of responsibility but I have a very supportive manager and a great team of communicators to help me.

A big THANKS to everyone who has supported my journey since 2006.

Hope to see soon and enjoy the nice weather!

Best:

Martin D. Jackson, OCGC (PR)
Communications Specialist

Internship News from Saskatchewan

By Jen Lyons

Hey Everybody!

I just thought i would drop you all a line and let you know how the first week is going!

Its a crazy time to be in health care!!!! I can't go into too much detail but my first day, I was doing media monitoring on an ongoing needle exchange issue here in Saskatoon, helping deal with the fall out from another issue and of course Swine FLU. I've been to more influenza meetings then anything else.

I'm on our Outbreak Control Team and the Emergency Operations Committee. Really I'm just listening, taking notes and proofing what goes out but its very interesting. T

In other news, I just wrote an article on the re-vamp being done to one of the hospital's parking lot, which is re-organizing all the staff parking. Its going into the internal newsletter tomorrow. And on Tuesday, I'm helping out with a news conference for the International Day of the Midwife. My official title is intern for Corporate and Public Affairs.

My first day, I walked home with this ridiculous smile on my face...I love this!!!!